Coplay Records Clutch Tri-county Victory 7-2 Baseball

July 16, 1986|by JACK LAPOS, The Morning Call

"We needed a good win and we got it," jubilant Jim Emerick exclaimed yesterday after he pitched a superb three-hitter to give Coplay a 7-2 win over North Parkland in a Tri-County League game at East Texas.

The victory was doubly sweet in that it lifted Coplay into undisputed possession of first place in theNorthern Division. Coplay went into yesterday's contest deadlocked with Limeport at the top of the standings. Coplay is now 17-6.

North Parkland has a 9-16 record.

Emerick, 23-year-old righthander who played his high school baseball at Whitehall, struck out four and walked three and got some nifty support from his teammates. Coplay did not commit an error.

Coplay came up with 11 hits off righthander Rich Correll, who went the seven-inning distance. Correll fanned six and issued only one walk but at times his teammates let him down on defense as they committed three errors.

Four players for Coplay had two hits - John Marushok, Randy Remaly, Jeff Erie and Lou Falco. Remaly, Falco and Charlie Kelly of North Parkland all had doubles. Player-coach George Horn of North Parkland had the evening's longest hit, a triple.

Coplay, which is the defending champion in its division, has only four games to go in the regular schedule. One is a showdown with Limeport Sunday at Fegely Stadium.

The 5-10 and 165-pound Emerick is well aware his team is involved in a crucial part of the season. He has played for Coplay in all three years of its Tri-County League existence. Two years ago he had a 7-4 mark. Last year he was 5-1. This season he is 6-2.

Assistant coach Rick Keppel, who directed the team in the absence of head coach Bob Bartholomew, agreed with Emerick that Coplay did indeed need an impressive win.

"The team looked dead the past week or so and now suddenly we are quite alive again," Keppel noted. "We know we must keep winning if we hope to stay in front of Limeport."

Coplay led all the way, jumping into a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Remaly doubled. Jeff Erie singled. Remaly then scored on a delayed double steal. Falco singled. Then Bill Erie came through with a run-producing single.

The visitors boosted their lead to 3-0 in the third. Remaly singled and stole second. Jeff Erie singled him home.

North Parkland made the game a bit closer by scoring once in the fourth. Brett Simock and Horn walked. Tom Kucharczuk singled home Simock. It looked like North Parkland would have a big inning when Ted Young walked to load the bases. However, Emerick struck out Charlie Kelly and got Chris Ficek to line out to second base.

That line drive catch was a beauty by Jeff Snyder, who dived to his left and snared the ball before tumbling to the ground. It was by far the best defensive play of the game.

North Parkland moved to within 3-2 in the sixth when Horn tripled and Kucharczuk followed with a run-producing groundout.

Coplay moved out of reach with a four-run outburst in the seventh, making the most of three hits and two errors. The key blows were an RBI single by Marushok and Falco's two-run double. Correll managed to escape further damage by retiring the next two batters.

Incidentally, one thing Coplay does not want to do now is look too far ahead. Before Coplay faces Limeport Sunday, it must take on Bethlehem Township tomorrow at Coplay.

- Gilbertsville posted its 18th win on a 9-3 bumping of Delaware Valley. Scott Gilbert hit 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI for the winners, and Kevin Endy added two RBI on a single in the fourth. Jim Evans blasted a solo shot in the fifth to help Kevin Mackey to his win. George Piperato provided a DelVal bright spot with an RBI single in the loser's three-run seventh. George Becker took the loss.

- Dennis Jones hurled a two-hit shutout to lead Quakertown past Limeport 2-0. Rob Rush broke the scoreless deadlock with a two-out single for two runs in the top of the fourth after loser Deron Erney issued two walks. Terry Keller hit 3-for-3 for the winners and scored in the seventh.